Gear Review: Simtek Duo Wireless Security Sensor (Production Model)

Last February I reviewed a prototype Simtek Duo, and loved it. Well, production versions have been shipping for a couple months now and it seemed like a good idea to follow up and review one, since this is what customers are actually receiving. Plus there have been a handful of updates and refinements along the way.

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Little has changed with the sensor itself. Each Simtek Duo has both a motion sensor and a light sensor. A trigger event for either one or both will send an alert out over the cell phone network to you and/or other people of your choosing.

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That alert can be a text message.

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Or a text message plus a push notification.

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In the mobile app settings the owner can change their device’s name, the alert message that’s sent, who’s subscribed to the notifications (requires their approval), and whether or not to enable those push notifications.

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Syncing a Duo to your phone is extremely easy. Simply open up the app, choose to add a new device (which is the first and only option if your app doesn’t already have any registered devices), and scan the QR code on the bottom of the device. The app automatically ingests the serial number and other information. Plug in your cell phone number, enter the PIN code that’s texted to you, and you’re done.

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A SIM card is pre-installed in each Duo. It’ll connect to any GSM mobile network in 200+ countries, and the device automatically chooses the network with the strongest signal.

Yes, this means a cellular messaging plan is required. Thankfully, Simtek makes this easy. You pay them a monthly ($4) or annual ($43) fee, and they take care of the charges from the cellular providers. If you’re traveling around domestically or internationally, there’s no worry about changing plans or anything like that. It just works. Though, if you were so inclined, I do believe you could use your own SIM card.

While only the weakest of cell signals is necessary — the Duo just has to squeak out a simple SMS message — the included, extended antenna can help in circumstances where coverage is poor and/or the unit is buried inside something. You know, like a steel gun safe. The antenna has a magnetic base and the cord can be run through a hole in the safe with the Duo on the inside and the antenna stuck on the outside. Though in 98% of cases, there’s a sufficient signal even with everything inside of a safe that the Duo works perfectly.

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On another of the Duo’s three sides, LEDs show when the device is detecting an infrared motion signature as well as when the device is triggered and an alert is successfully sent.

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The unit’s third side contains a micro USB port for charging the internal CR123A battery (which is included). It’s expected to last about a year between charges with an average of 10 alerts per month.

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Clicking on the app push notification takes you to the alert history page within the app. There you can see current stats of your Duo such as battery charge state and cell network signal strength. Below that will be a log of all your Duo’s trigger events.

If you then select one of the trigger events, a map opens up. It includes the cell phone triangulation-based location of your device at the time of the alert, shown both on a map and via longitude and latitude coordinates. Cell network-based location can vary in accuracy, but suffice it to say that I haven’t included a screen shot of this on my app because it dropped that map pin precisely where my house is on the displayed street map.

By using the cell network instead of WiFi, Simtek has created a device that works almost anywhere in the world and is far less susceptible to power outages (intentional or otherwise), internet outages, hacking, etc. It’s also more easily portable without the owner having to continuously, manually connect to new networks.

Jeremy S. for TTAG

My Duo lives on the pile of crap on top of my safe. While one interesting hack of the unit is to turn it into a motion sensor-only affair by putting black electrical tape over the light sensor — this can be handy to monitor spaces like inside your sailboat, RV, car, or open-to-daylight shed or warehouse should someone break in while you’re away — I didn’t have to do this for my particular safe setup.

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Because I built my SnapSafe Super Titan XL inside of my office closet (then buried it in crap). Close the door and the Simtek Duo arms itself within a couple of seconds. Open the door, and either the light sensor or motion sensor alerts first.

I figure why wait until the safe is opened to get an alert? With this setup, my phone is pinging away within 20 seconds of the Duo triggering, and whoever’s rifling through my stuff just ran out of time to work on the safe.

Overall * * * * *The Duo does exactly what it says it will and it’s simple and reliable as can be. Now that the MSRP is half of what it was during prototype phase and it looks like the going rate may be more like $150-ish, I’m happy to give the Duo a full five stars. It’s a great device with all sorts of potential and valuable uses.

comments

So how easy is it to block the signal?, most of the major flaws in the vehicle GPS systems(LoJack etc…) Is that the outgoing signal is easily blocked or jammed preventing it to send an alert before tripping it.

Yeah I gotta say, if you’re getting hit by a heist crew that’s knocking out power and jamming WiFi and cell phone signals, you’ve either done something really wrong or really right. I’m FAR from attracting that kind of special attention haha

@Hippi it is not easy to block the signal as it uses a penta band cellular modem that connects to different networks automatically. It also uses 2 factor authentication and all transmissions are sent over an encrypted connection.

Thanks for the answer hi tec thieves suck I know. A pair got to the closest gas station (about seven miles) with dads 32(GPS tracker installed) lucky local cops knew him and the car. Cops found a blocker in the car.

One method pings a cell tower randomly as a keep alive heartbeat so the signal is not easily identified. If the signal is a mystery it’s hard to block without causing a widespread outage that would get noticed.
And if it’s not continuously transmitting a their would know it’s there unless someone blabbed.
Security takes many forms and OPSEC applied to all.of them.

The fact it can search for different towers or carriers is a plus as you would need to jack more than one to blind it.

By using the cell network instead of WiFi, Simtek has created a device that works almost anywhere in the world and is far less susceptible to power outages (intentional or otherwise), internet outages, hacking, etc. It’s also more easily portable without the owner having to continuously, manually connect to new networks.

Wi-Fi is dependent on other systems and can be sniffed for devices. It’s a network device. Cellular is more secure and can use different carriers. Like having several networks instead of one.
Wi-Fi can be cut outside the house by snipping the line going in. It can also be DDoS attacked from outside.

GS650G well said regarding wifi. The other big drawback to WIFI was that we found it hard to get signal out of the safe on the wifi frequency spectrum, andoften times the router was no where near where our safe was stored. Additionally, the sensor would be the last password you’d remember to change if you got a new router and with all of the outages we experience with Comcast on a monthly basis, felt that it was just too unreliable and insecure to do it. We may offer wifi in the future but didn’t want to compromise on this one.

The other awesome bonus feature with cellular is that we have location triangulation – so if someone walks off with your safe, you can get a rough vicinity location of where it might be at when they open the safe up across town!

You can pick up more than one sensor – we’d be happy to provide a $50 off coupon if you email [email protected] for more than one. Note, they are best used in places where there is not frequent traffic – like your safe, an off limits closet or drawer etc – and not something like a front door or garage where you will be getting lots of notifications, as they won’t be very valuable. You want to deploy the Simtek sensor in any area where getting alerts means something is actually happening. Combined with in home surveillance cameras and other alarm systems they can significantly enhance your awareness and defense nets. Check it out at https://www.simtek.io/products/simtek-duo-smart-motion-sensor

FYI, the Simtek app requires zero access permissions if you want to input your device’s ID manually and only access to use your phone’s camera if you want to ingest the ID automatically from the QR code (a permission that you can rescind afterwards). Most apps demand access to all sorts of capabilities and data in order to use them. The Simtek app requires none and requests only one.

Who does it send the SMS message to — my own phone number, or the Simtek HQ number? Unless there is some sort of configuration, either before it ships or when I first connect to it, it would probably be Simtek HQ, which means they have to look up my account based on a serial number in the message, then send me a separate message. I realize that allows the app to connect to HQ and report statistics, triangulation location, etc, but it also means if Simtek ever drops the business, all sold Duos become instant paperweights.

Or maybe it sends two SMS messages, one to my phone and one to HQ. That would be nice.

I didn’t see any downloadable manual on the website. That would be nice too.

Hey Felix – In the event Simtek were to go belly up as you mention – the sensors are easily reprogrammed to bypass our server and could send directly to the users phone number. So they should never be a paper-weight. Each sensor has top of the line hardware that will last for many many years. We’ve had people using them without issue for almost 2 years so far, and look forward to many more! Check out the setup guide at the footer of our website https://www.simtek.io/pages/setup that should give you more info, as well as the footer of our website which has the FAQ section.

About the only thing I have thought of as an improvement is some way to not alert when I open the safe or suitcase or coffin, say some PIN I could enter in the dark before turning the lights on. But that would add expense, not be very practical, and open up a huge security hole. And the false alarms send the text to me, not the police, so there’s no real need to avoid them.

I’ve also been thinking of other uses for these, like hanging one on the front door at night or putting under a car seat. So there’s another question — if I did buy several of them, all for the same account, could they all get by on the same SMS subscription of $4/month or $43/year?

I was going to make some jokes about alarming coffins and such, but seriously let’s not forget how completely portable this unit is and how many dozens of things you could use it for. If you have a home security system then you obviously don’t require additional systems serving that same function. But maybe you still want to alarm a specific closet or drawer or the trunk of your car or a storage unit or whatever the heck ever whether you’re in your home with your security system turned off or not. Come on, man, have *some* minimum level of creativity above naught.

And, I’m sorry, but are you seriously calling a product stupid that serves the same purpose as a different product that you choose to pay money for? This is hard for me to reconcile. Next you’ll tell us that coolers are a stupid product because you already own a refrigerator.

1) Used in a home (as in the review) or office setting, I think that there is a very small market for the product. Most people, who have security concerns, would be better served with a more robust security system. Thus, the size of the potential home/office market is probably very small.

2) After additional thought, I do see a use for mobile users (sheds, trailers, etc).

Optional to use our dataplan (you can use your own GSM simcard, not recommended since it won’t be global or have triangulation capabilities). We looked at wifi, and found it to be a poor option for safes and for deploying out in the field (range, hotel, etc.) It was too easily defeated by cutting power, manually connecting to networks and frequent outages. Plus, most people don’t have great wifi signal coverage where the safe is and definitely not in places like their glovebox in their truck etc..

$4 per month is less than a cup of coffee for reliable alerts anywhere in the world + location triangulation. Don’t like it don’t buy it. We do have a 30 day refund policy and stand behind the product we engineered for over 2 years. The experience is very different than other products on the market.

Liberty Safe-Alert (made by another company and rebadged) sends out via wifi of home internet to text message AND emails. $100 last I check and NO Fees.
Another alternative to check.
It scans moisture, heat, light, motion. Very sensitive to motion and light.
But I think moisture probably needs an add-on that’s not offered in USA.

Those liberty safe elertus are $200 everywhere, and not as versatile. As Felix mentioned they are for only static situations and read some of the reviews the problem as it relies on WiFi which everyone’s goes out at some point, or worse someone could simply unplug the router in the family room and it’s done. We wanted to do one thing well and reliably.

Ordered one on the 8th…still waiting. Checked status it is en route from a plant in China through Hong Kong through US Customs into the US Mail system shuffling around a good part of the US and destined to be delivered sometime in the next few days…call it two weeks to get one sent to your home.

A few observations:

First: The site and order response e-mail did not mention that it would take weeks to ship one from China (wonder if the SIM card routes through Chinese Army servers?).

Second: I have an older Android smart phone…it is incompatible with the system (didn’t find this out until well after I ordered) this connection information should be prominently displayed on the site.

Third: Did I mention that I received an invitation from Simtek a few days ago to recommend the product to others on a referral program (bloody hell, I don’t even have the device yet).